Page 90 of More Than a Good Friend

“Merry Christmas to me.”

EPILOGUE

ARCHER

Yawning, I climb into Dag’s truck. “Tell me again why we’re headed to town this early in the morning.”

Truth is, I have no idea why we’re going or why I agreed to go, but Dag said it was important. And I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.

It’s definitely important to him because he’s reminded me every single day since asking.

So here we are.

“Not even a hint?” I’m trying not to be irritated.

He taps the steering wheel. “Donuts.”

“Sweets doesn’t open until six. And it takes like five minutes to get there.”

After a few beats of silence, he glances at me. “I called ahead. Tessa knows I’m coming early to pick up donuts for the ranch since it’s my birthday.”

“That doesn’t explain why it’s important for me to be here.” I like Dag, but sometimes he can be frustrating.

He pulls into the parking lot and shuts off the engine. “Last year, when everything was going on with Goldie, you listened whenever I needed advice or even just to vent. And I’m trying to return the favor. I know you’re chatting with that woman online, but...” He shrugs. “Just walk into the donut shop.”

Now I’m even more confused. What does the gal online have to do with donuts? But the answer is apparently in the donut shop, so I swing open the door. “If this is some elaborate prank to scare me, I’ll tell you now that I won’t be happy.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not a prank, and honestly, I don’t know if it’ll make you happy. But I do think it’s important because the times we talked this year, I was listening. You might’ve been young, but it’s obvious you were in love.” The truck door slams closed, and Dag takes off toward the shop. When we get near the door, he slows. “You go in first.”

My head is spinning because all that about being in love has me thinking about Lettie, but she has nothing to do with the online gal or the donut shop. Every new tidbit Dag shares only confuses me more.

Looking back at him, I yank open the door.

Then I turn around and see Lettie.

My ex—the woman who yanked out my heart, ran it through a shredder, and left the pieces for me to cobble together—gasps and drops a tray of donuts.

Dag runs past me and looks over the counter. “Y’all going to sell those at a discount?”

Tessa, the shop owner, runs in from the kitchen, and it’s clear from her expression that she’s aware o f my connection to Lettie. It’s not fun to know you were the only one left out of a big secret. I suppose that’s how Dag felt when he learned we all knew Goldie liked him.

I haven’t seen my ex since my grandmother’s funeral, and I made it a point not to speak to her then because a heart can only handle so much pain. But that was over a year ago, and I’ve healed. Or thought I had.

Hurt, happiness, and anger vie for center stage. And when I notice the tears slipping down her cheeks, anger wins out.

“I’ll wait in the truck.” I turn and walk out the door.

Instead of stopping, I continue walking. It’s only a few miles to the ranch, and by the time I get there, I might be ready to see people without tearing into them.

Everything Dag said makes sense now. I just didn’t put it all together.

I’m a mile out of town by the time Dag pulls up alongside me.

He slows the truck to match my pace and rolls down his window. “Are you mad?”

“I don’t know what I am.” I keep walking.

“If you get in, I’ll give you a donut. It hasn’t been on the floor or anything. Those are in a separate box. Tessa gave them to me cheap.” He sticks his hand out the window and hooks his thumb back toward town. “She was pretty upset. Lettie, not Tessa.”

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